Piper 601P accident near San Diego, California, February 18, 1983
On February 18, 1983 at about 3:13 am local time, a Piper 601P, registered N90353, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1983 · about 3:13 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper 601P
- Registration
- N90353 · no longer on the register · serial 61P-0211-021
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAKING OFF, THE ACFT CLIMBED APRX 100 TO 200 FT, THEN BEGAN LOOSING ALT. DURING A FORCED LANDING ON A STREET, IT HIT A PARKED CAR & A LIGHT POLE & BURST IN FLAMES. THE PLT, WHO LATER EXPIRED, SAID THAT NEITHER ENG DEVELOPED FULL POWER (2575 RPM). HE SAID THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL WHEN POWER WAS 1ST APPLIED, BUT SAID FULL RPM WAS GENERALLY OBTAINED SHORTLY AFTER THE ROLL WAS BEGUN. AFTER BEING COMMITTED FOR TAKEOFF, BOTH RPM'S WERE REPORTEDLY BETWEEN 2300 & 2400 RPM.SVRL WITNESSES STATED THE ENGS SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE RUNNING ROUGH. A WITNESS REPORTED THE ACFT SWERVED 'AS THO THE PLTHAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE L ENG.' REPORTEDLY, THE PLT 'DROPPED SOME MORE FLAPS' BELOW THE 20 DEG TAKEOFF SETTING 'IN ORDERTO PULL IT OFF' & RAISED THE GEAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF. ENG TEARDOWNS REVEALED EXCESSIVE SPARK PLUG GAPS, 1 MAG ONTHE R ENG HAD A .008 POINT GAP (.016 REQUIRED), ITS #1 & #4 DISTRIBUTOR BLOCKS WERE CRACKED & THE #1 & #6 LEADS WOULD NOT FIRE PROPERLY. HARTZELL F-6-5A PROP GOVERNORS INSTALLED IN PLACE OF F-6-35A. ACFT WAS APRX 348 LBS OVER MAX WT LMT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Observation at 3:00 am from MYF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.